Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-05-05
THE INCARNATION OF BUSINESS.
Alexander T. Stewart and His Dealings
with His Fellow Men.


with His Fellow Men.
Alexander 7. Stewart was thought to be
strictly honest, but he was the incarnation of
business simply; he was selfish, hard and cold
In the extreme; he had no friends, Judge
Hilton excepted, and no companions 1t was
constantly said that he was devoid Of the
milk of human kindness; that his body did
not contain drop of warm blood He had
no children-he had lost two in infancy-and
bis wife stood in such awe Of him that affec-
ton between them was impossible. Despite
his millions, he never gave her any amount
Of money, convinced that women did not and
could not understand its use. The only really
humanity social thing he was guilty Of was to
provide an elaborate dinner in the mauSoleum
on the Sundays of the winter. Judge Hilton
was always present, and number of gentle
men for whom MIR. Stewart appeared to have
some respect. The guests varied very little
from month to month.
The great merchant employed his enormous
capital mercilessly to break down and ruin
smaller merchants. Scores Of them, it Is said,
have been rendered bankrupt by his financial
despotism, and the desperate condition and
death Of several have been laid directly at hh
door. He hated those who attempted to COM
pete with him; he seemed to think he had a
right to monopolize the great dry goods trade
of New York, and he tried by every means in
his power to destroy opposition This Is fre-
quently done, and Is considered legitimate
al in the way Of business. But Mr. Stewart
had the credit of doing more Of it, of going to
greater lengths than others; and, being very
rich and generally disliksd, he was regarded
as the sole offender. Stories were constantly
circulated of how his sternness and cruelty
had driven men to their graves. Many Of the
stories were piteous to degree-so distress
ing that it was hardly inteIligible that they
should not have excited his compassion They
may have been exaggerated, or even false in
whole or in part, but they were believed, and
the rich merchant gathered more and more
odium the longer he lived I have heard
many good, upright citizen declare that Mr..
Stewards death, while he lived, would be q
public benefit; that his course Of commercial
action was that Of an enemy to the COM
munity. Nevertheless, he commanded q very
large custom, both in the wholesale and retail
trade, not because people cared for him, but
because they could buy on favorable terms
and felt sure Of being fairly dealt with.
A T. Stewart, the man, hardly any one
knew; he was mainly name, representing
hardness, sordidness, material success at the
price of humanity. Had he been known he
would have created aught but a favorable
impression, for he was a bloodless, cold,
severe looking Scotch-Irishman, whom
neither children nor dogs would be likely to
approach In person he answered to his rep
utation, which was singularly unfortunate
The virtues attributed to hin-probity, JUS
tice, moralty-did not count ta his behalf.
nor were they accepted as palliations of his
hardness If he had possessed few amiabls
weaknesses or been inclined to few lovable
sins, he would have stood better In the eyes
Of the multitude-@Worben" In Chicago
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